Obituary: Christian Gerard (Gary) Nienkamp

Tuesday

Apr 30, 2013 at 3:37 PMMay 1, 2013 at 8:25 AM

Christian Gerard (Gary) Nienkamp was born June 17, 1935, in St. Louis, MO, the son of Robert and Lorene (Sickmeier) Nienkamp. Pastor Gary served Bethel U.C.C. in Nebraska City from 1970-1992. He died April 29, 2013 at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Lincoln, NE at the age of 77 years.

Christian Gerard (Gary) Nienkamp was born June 17, 1935, in St. Louis, MO, the son of Robert and Lorene (Sickmeier) Nienkamp.

He died April 29, 2013 at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Lincoln, NE at the age of 77 years.

He married Arlyce Ann Schuknecht June 8, 1958 at the Wayland Christian Congregational Church in rural Gresham, NE. Gary was a 1952 graduate of Western High School, a 1957 graduate of Doane College in Crete, NE, and received his Divinity Degree from Oberlin Seminary in Oberlin, OH in 1961. Gary was ordained at St. John's U.C.C. in Genoa, OH on June 15, 1961. Gary and Ann lived near Milford, NE where he served at Goehner and West Blue U.C.C. churches from 1961 – 1966; Belle Fourche, SD from 1966 – 1970 where he served at First Congregational U.C.C. before moving to Nebraska City in 1970. Pastor Gary served Bethel U.C.C. from 1970-1992. While at Bethel, he was an active member in the senior choir and touched many lives in the community with officiating weddings, baptisms, and funerals during his 22 years in Nebraska City. Gary was at the Congregational U.C.C. in Harlan, IA from 1992 until retiring October 1, 2000. Gary then returned to Nebraska City and became Pastor Emeritus at Bethel U.C.C. in 2006. Gary and Ann owned The Sewing Basket from 1975 to present. Gary played an excellent hand of pinochle and cribbage, enjoyed gardening, fishing, watching sports, and was a member of the Post Mark Collectors Club for 56 years. Survivors include his daughter Judy Nienkamp of Nebraska City, NE; daughter Betty and husband Todd Mason, and grandchildren Jacob and Emily Mason of Charles City, IA; and daughter Meredith Nienkamp of Marietta, GA; brother Robert and Joan Nienkamp of Columbus, NE; brother David and Sandra Nienkamp of Edgar, NE; sisters-in-law Bonnie Nienkamp of Crete, NE and Jane Wilcox of York, NE; many other relatives, neighbors, and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, his brother William Nienkamp, and his father and mother-in-law Elmer and Eleanora Schuknecht. Funeral services are 11:00 AM Thursday at Bethel United Church of Christ in Nebraska City with burial in Wyuka Cemetery, Nebraska City. Visitations are 1:00 – 9:00 P.M. Wednesday, with the family greeting friends from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Gary's family would like to thank each and every one of you for your prayers and support during this special time in their lives. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Bethel United Church of Christ Memorial Elevator Fund or the Emmaus Home near Marthasville, MO. Online condolences may be expressed at marshallfuneral.com. Marshall Funeral Chapel in Nebraska City is in charge of arrangements.